The Nelson-Atkins isn’t just another art museum; with architect Steven Holl’s addition of the Bloch building in 2007, the grounds themselves are a “work of haunting power,” according to The New York Times. The original building, with a traditional colonnade protruding from marble steps, frames what might be called Kansas City’s front yard: a long green space where people toss the frisbee, play catch, or simply lie on the grass. True to form, four giant shuttlecocks adorn the lawn. The Bloch Building runs alongside the structure, a modern art masterpiece of glass and light that’s as much a work of art as what’s inside. The Museum itself features a fine post-impressionist collection, a number of traveling exhibitions (it first hosted one of two American collections of a Water Lilies triptych), and the romantic Rozzelle Court Restaurant, where you can dine in a 15th-century Italian courtyard. Schedule your visit around the popular monthly series “Art Tasting with Julian,” in which museum director Julian Zugazagoitia gives a fun talk about the museum’s pieces over wine. To see a full roster of guest speakers and other programs, visit nelson-atkins.org.